Vacuum radiator air vent valve



July l, 1941. R. E. TURNER VACUUM RADIATOR AIR VENT VALVE Filed Feb. 17,1940 @www LUM/2ML LLI/LUL,

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 1, 1941 UNlTED STATES PTEN FFICE VACUUM RADIATOR AIR VEN TVALVE Robert E. Turner, New York, N. Y.

Application February 17, 1940, Serial No. 319,385

li Claims.

This invention relates to radiator valves, and more particularly tovacuum-retaining, thermostatic-float types used as air vents for steamheating radiators and on the risers of steam systems.

Such valves should perform several functions: permit the evacuation ofair from the individual radiators and from the heating system with .aminimum of resistance or back-pressure; thermostatically close againstthe escape of steam when all air has been thus voided from the system(radiator); seal the radiator against leakage of water by means of thebuoyancyk of the thermostatic element; to establish and maintain thevacuum produced by steam condensation during off periods, or when thesteam vapor pressure within the system falls below atmospheric pressure,and thus retain this vapor in the radiators and piping instead ofpermitting it to be replaced by inrushing air. This not only extends theperiod of available heat but facilitates the raising of steam at thebeginning of the on period because no energy is required to force airout of the system; and, to permit controllable modulation ofthe rate ofair venting so that the heating of individual radiators may be balancedand made uniform throughout the entire heating system.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a valve capable ofperforming the foregoing functions in a more efcient manner thanheretofore accomplished.

A further feature is in the provision of means which include the use ofrecently developed synthetic plastics, having the advantages, but notthe disadvantages, of rubber, for the construction of certain parts ofthe valve.

These and other advantageous objects, which will appear as thespecification progresses, are accomplished by the novel and practicalconstruction, combination and arrangement of simple Figure il is a crosssectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, the body of the valve,generally designated by the numeral I5, will be seen to be substantiallycylindrical, its central portion having a plurality of longitudinallycurved undulations or flutings I6.

The bottom wall il, rests in the up-turned annular flange of a supportI3, connected by a threaded nipple I9, to the radiator. This nipple hasa central longitudinal partition forming inlet and outlet conduits2li-2l, respectively for steam and condensed vapor.

The Wall I'l has a plurality of circular openings 23 through which airand steam from the conduit Z0 pass to the body chamber 2d.

Loosely contained in this chamber isa cylindrical iioat 25, maintainedsubstantially central and guided by the undulations i6, both ends of thefloat having a dome-shaped central kportion 26 and rows of annularraised ridges 21, of angular cross section, forming extensiblediaphragms. This float is charged with a suitable quantity of volatileliquid having the proper boiling point to vaporize and cause thediaphragms to expand at steam temperature. y

Above the chamber 2li, the valve body is cylindrical and threaded toengage a band 2S depending from a cap v29.

An inverted cup Sii is adjustably engaged. bythe screw threads, forminga transverse partition o1` valve deck 3| near the upper edge of thebody, the same having a down-reaching .hollow annular projection 32, theopening in which constitutes a hollow boss.

vulcanized, or otherwise secured, in this hollow boss and extendingtherebelow is the hollow stem of a feather-edged, mushroom-shaped valveelement 35, open to the lower main float chamber 24, and having at thejunction of its stem and head a plurality of transverse ports Stcommunicating with the passage 3l. The annular valve head 38 rests atall times in fiat contact with the upper level surface of the cup bottom3| forming therewith the non-return or vacuum portion of the valve. Thelower edge of the stem of this element, projecting downward into thechamber 2d, provides a resilient, non-metallic seat against which thethermostatic float acts when expanded by steam temperature or when it isiioated upward by the ooding of chamber 24. Escaping air is forcedthrough this hollow stem and seeps outward radially between the parallelsurfaces of the valve and valve seat with a minimum of resistance andabsence of noise.

Thus this valve element in itself and in ccnjunction with thethermostatic oat forms a stopcheck Valve, with the check, because ofinherent characteristics of its component material, always temperatureand buoyancy.

It is proposed that this valve element be made of a synthetic plastichaving the general appearance and characteristics of rubber, includingthat of being moldable into suitable formations and shapes, but, inaddition, having distinctive and unique qualities especially suiting itfor the purpose proposed. Among these qualities are; tolerance to heatand stable consistency within the range of temperatures to which aradiator valve would be subjected; resistance to disintegration fromoil, and negligible oxidation under moisture, etc. These plastics areavailable under various trade names, of which one is Neoprene W A v Inthe upper at part of the cup 29 is an oifset opening 40, and mountedaxially inthe cap is a rotatable stem 4|, having a slotted head 4,2,provided with an annular recess 43, in which is positioned a springwasher 44.

Fixed on the lower end of the stem @l is an eccentric disk 45, heldtightly in contact 4with the under side of the cap by the spring washer44, and so arranged that by turning the slotted head the disk may berotated to vary the size of the orifice 40, from a minimum opening tofully open, thereby controllably permitting the escape of air entrainedin the cap, after ascending through the passage 31, passing the ports3B, and emerging from under the feather-edge of the valve head 3B.

Although the foregoing is descriptive` of the preferred form of theinvention, it will be understood that modifications in various detailsmay be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit and scope of theclaims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention', whatis claimed as new and soughtto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An automatic regulating valve for1 steam radiators comprising acasing having upper and lower chambers therein, a port common to saidchambers, an annular valve seat surrounding said port within the upperchamber, a pliable valve having a flexible thin edged head of constantlyreduced cross section positioned on said port valve seat, a hollow stemextending from said head and through said port into the lower chamber,.ports connecting the bore of said stemwith the under surface of saidhead, a valve seat on the lower end of said stem, and a thermostaticfloat valve positioned in the last named chamber adapted to contact theseat on said stem when expanded.

2. An automatic regulating valve for steam radiators comprising a casinghaving two adjacent chambers therein relatively upper and lower, apassage between said. chambers, an annular valve seat within the uppercham-ber, an annular hollow boss extending from said seat into the lowerchamber, a mushroom-shaped flexible valve having an annular thin edgedhead disposed on said valve seat, ia hollow stem extending axially fromsaid head through said seat into the lower chamber, ports connecting thebore of said stem with the under surface of said head, a valve seat onthe lower end of said stem, and a thermostatic float valve in said lowerchamber adapted to 'contact the stern Valve and co-act with saidmushroom-shaped valve.

3.. A radiator relief valve comprising a cylindrical casing having atransverse partition forming main and minor compartments, said maincompartment communicating with the radiator, a thermostatic float in themain compartment adapted to expand longitudinally upon subjection toheat, and to rise in the event said compartment is flooded, saidpartition having a hollow boss extending into the main compartment, ahollow stem fixed in said boss -to normally extend therebelow into themain compartment, an annular thin edgedflexible head on said stemadapted to seat on said partition, and ports through said stem at itsjunction with its head, the passage in said stem being closed by saidoat when raised or expanded.

4. In a radiator relief valve having main and minor compartments and apartition therebetween, a hollow annular projection on said partitionextending into the main compartment, a mushroom shaped highly flexiblevalve having a thin pliant annular border seated on said partition andyan integral hollow stern extending through and beyond said projection,said stem provided with perforations at its juncture with the main bodyof the valve, and a float in said main compartment adapted to close theopening through said stem when raised.

ROBERT E. TURNER.

